The advance of the elephant herd in Yunnan Province in southwest China has puzzled experts and made headlines around the world.
But now the herd, after much effort and great trouble, soon seems to be home again.
On Sunday, the 14 elephants crossed the Yuanjiang River in Yunnan Province with a view to the south.
There are still about 200 km left before they are back in the nature reserve near the border with Laos they once left, but according to authorities, the herd is now a "suitable habitat".
Caused major damage
The rescue operation to get back the migrating elephants, who have been traveling for almost 17 months, has been anything but easy.
During their 130 km journey, they have wandered through cities, villages and fields and caused great devastation.
Buildings have been destroyed and millions of crops have been eaten along the way.
Corn, pineapple and bananas have been described as favorite foods.
Two calves were also born during the trip, according to local authorities.
One of them was found injured and abandoned and taken to a care center for elephants.
150,000 have been evacuated
Throughout the hike, the herd has been guarded by drones.
In this way, authorities have been able to warn residents of villages where they have been heading and urged them to stay indoors.
But sometimes it has not been enough.
More than 150,000 people have been forced to evacuate since the hike began, a BBC official said.
To make the now well-known herd move in the right direction to the south, vehicles have been placed across roads.
The elephants have also been lured with around 180 tons of food along the journey.
Why the elephants left the nature reserve and started hiking north is still unclear.
Some experts have suggested that an inexperienced leader may have guided them the wrong way, while others explain the behavior by looking for a new habitat due to reduced resources.